Reverse Logistics Introducing Cargo Cycles: A Case Study of the Municipal City Cleaning Management of Hamburg City

Cities are confronted with increased traffic and traffic related emissions. Replacing combustion vehicles used by municipal organizations with electric vehicles is therefore one option investigated to reduce these emissions, noise as well as fumes. Little is known about the challenges and opportunities related to such a shift, of how to approach it best and what are the prerequisites for it to being successful. Using the example of Hamburg municipal waste management (Stadtreinigung Hamburg), this paper describes the results of a comprehensive empirical analysis of current surface cleaning processes and analyses, which of these are suitable for the use of cargo e-bikes. Furthermore it is analyzed, where and how amendments to processes which are currently not suitable for a shift to cargo e-bikes would enable such a shift. The underlying, newly developed reverse logistics concept adapts micro consolidation center concepts so far mainly used for parcel services. The paper maps out, how many of the current processes could be equipped with e-cargo cycles in total and which savings could be realized with their introduction: a total of 34 pickup trucks can be substituted by electric cargo cycles and e-bikes, enabling savings on vehicle costs by up to 45%. The paper closes with an outlook on implications of a shift toward electromobility on changing structures of reverse logistics and on the related change management.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was sponsored by TRB committee AT025 Standing Committee on Urban Freight Transportation.
• Authors:
  • Rudolph, Christian
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 97th Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2018-1-7 to 2018-1-11
• Date: 2018

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: 4p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bicycles; Cargo handling; Case studies; Cleaning; Electric vehicles; Logistics
• Geographic Terms: Hamburg (Germany)
• Subject Areas: Freight Transportation; Highways; Pedestrians and Bicyclists;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01663535
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 18-00672
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Mar 22 2018 11:55AM